![[C.1888–1895 Original Boudoir Card Photograph of the New St. Charles Hotel in San Bernardino, California]. Anon.](/pictures/thumb/143199_1.jpg?v=1537914654)
This original photograph shows the New St. Charles Hotel in San Bernardino, California, circa 1888–1895, on a bright, sunlit day. When studied with care, a.... Read More
In the matter of Ah Fong, a Chinese woman immigrant, an 1874 opinion for the U.S. District Court of California. The opinion was written by... Read More
![Report of the Secretary Of War, Communicating ... A Report of E. F. Beale of his Exploration for a Wagon Road from Fort Defiance, in New Mexico, to the Western Borders of California… [ caption title]. Edwin F. Beale.](/images/noimage-req.png)
Beale’s preliminary report upon his arrival in California after a 48-day journey to explore a suitable route for wagons from Fort Defiance, New Mexico to... Read More
Appealing assembly of three salesman’s sample, dummy, or canvassing books all focusing on San Francisco’s disastrous 1906 earthquake and fire. The three titles—The San Francisco... Read More
![Souvenir and Book of Information of San Francisco Published by and Compliments of Newman’s New Russ House… [cover title]. Proprietors Charles Newman Co.](/pictures/thumb/3727760_1.jpg?v=1537982988)
Advertising with dogs. Rare, possibly unrecorded, c.1903 illustrated souvenir book of “Newman’s New Russ House,” a San Francisco luxury hotel later destroyed in the city’s... Read More
![Banking House of Cronise & Co., ...1857. We annex rates for SPECIE [opening lines of circular]. Cronise & Co.](/pictures/thumb/3725200_1.jpg?v=1534362303)
After the California Gold Rush of 1848–1855, gold bullion was minted in San Francisco into official United States coins. Some of these coins and gold... Read More
On July 27, 1862, during the American Civil War and enroute to Panama, passengers slumbered aboard the Pacific Pacific mail steamship S.S. “Golden Gate” when... Read More
As the Civil War continues, over 200 African-American Californians seek relief from Congress for racial discrimination. The petition begins this: This memorial of colored persons... Read More
1850s California stock certificate printed for the Eureka Quartz Mining Company of Eldorado County, California. Gold deposits commonly occur in quartz veins. In the immediate... Read More
Children’s book about the adventures of 5-year-old twins Roggie and Reggie who leave their home in California to go to Washington, D.C. with their father... Read More
![Candrian’s Double Indexed A to Z Street Guide of San Francisco ... With Car-o-Grams & New Map [cover title]. H A. Candrian, Candrian Map & Guide Company.](/pictures/thumb/3726708_1.jpg?v=1537910627)
1926 Pocket directory of San Francisco with foldout map sheet. The combination street guide and city directory includes one unusual feature as part of the... Read More
Unusual love letter from 1849 California Gold Rush pioneer and lawyer, James B. Townsend, here writing to his beloved “Josie C.” Townsend is listed as... Read More
Illustrated, four-page advertisement for Grizzly Adams, a western frontier-themed play: “No Shooting or Yelling Indians, But a Truthfully Depicted Idyl of American Life on the... Read More
![[Archive of 1943–1945 of Second World War Letters to and from Naval Lt. James H. Hardy [with:] 1946–1947 Post-War Hardy Family Correspondence]. Lt. James Hazen Hardy Jr., Isabell Hardy, James Hazen Hardy III.](/pictures/thumb/3727374_1.jpg?v=1535578235)
“Thanksgiving—1943. Thankful for what? In a world at war / Where bullets whine and cannons roar, / Where the stuttering .50s of diving plane /... Read More
C.1952 Christmas catalog of fresh and candied California fruit and nuts from pioneering fruit sellers and marketers Mission Pak of Los Angeles. Founded in 1917... Read More
![[C.1880s–1890s, Fine Gold Gulch, California Gold Fields Mining Letter]. P. Jones.](/pictures/thumb/3726337_1.jpg?v=1534362356)
Interesting autograph letter signed describing hardships in the California gold fields at Fine Gold Gulch, Madera County. Mines were first opened at Fine Gold Gulch... Read More
![[Trip to the American West and the Canadian Rockies by the Pilgrim Commandery, No. 11, Knights Templar, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ]. No. 11 Pilgrim Commandery, Pennsylvania, of Harrisburg, Knights Templar.](/pictures/thumb/3727750_1.jpg?v=1537910629)
Six items, some unique and unrecorded. In August and September 1904, members of Pilgrim Commandery, No. 11, Knights Templar, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania formed a “San... Read More
Archy Lee was a slave brought to California who became fugitive when he realized his master would return him to Mississippi. He was caught in... Read More
